Greene v. Social Security Administration

Filing 16

OPINION AND ORDER: The final determination of the Commissioner is affirmed. Robert Eugene Greene's complaint is dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Judge J. Leon Holmes on 2/21/2014. (ks) (Docket text modified on 2/21/2014 to correct a typographical error). (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
PINE BLUFF DIVISION
ROBERT EUGENE GREENE
v.

PLAINTIFF
NO. 5:12CV00426 JLH

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting Commissioner,
Social Security Administration1

DEFENDANT

OPINION AND ORDER
Robert Eugene Greene has appealed the final decision of the Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration denying his claims for Disability Insurance benefits and Supplemental
Security Income, based on disability. Both parties have submitted appeal briefs and the case is ready
for decision.
The Court reviews to determine whether the Commissioner’s decision is supported by
substantial evidence on the record as a whole and free of legal error. Slusser v. Astrue, 557 F.3d 923,
925 (8th Cir. 2009); Long v. Chater, 108 F.3d 185, 187 (8th Cir. 1997); see also 42 U.S.C.
§§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3). Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might
accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S. Ct.
1420, 1427, 28 L. Ed. 2d 842 (1971); Reynolds v. Chater, 82 F.3d 254, 257 (8th Cir. 1996).
In assessing whether the Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, the
Court must consider evidence that detracts from the Commissioner’s decision as well as evidence that
supports it. The Court may not, however, reverse the Commissioner’s decision merely because
substantial evidence would have supported an opposite decision. Sultan v. Barnhart, 368 F.3d 857,
863 (8th Cir. 2004); Woolf v. Shalala, 3 F.3d 1210, 1213 (8th Cir. 1993).
1

On February 14, 2013, Carolyn W. Colvin became the Acting Commissioner of Social
Security. She is therefore substituted for Michael J. Astrue pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d).

“Disability” is the “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or
which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.”
42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A); 1382c(a)(3)(A). A “‘physical or mental impairment’ is an impairment
that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrable
by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.” 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(3);
1382c(a)(3)(D).
Greene alleged that he was limited in his ability to work by sleep apnea and a torn ligament.
Tr. 189. Greene’s applications were denied initially and upon reconsideration. Tr. 52-58, 63-68.
He then requested a hearing by an Administrative Law Judge. Tr. 69-70. After conducting an
administrative hearing at which Greene and a vocational expert testified, the ALJ concluded that
Greene had not been under a disability within the meaning of the Social Security Act at any time from
January 31, 2008, his alleged onset date, through July 6, 2011, the date of his decision. Tr. 27. On
August 17, 2012, the Appeals Council denied Greene’s request for a review of the ALJ’s decision,
making the ALJ’s decision the final decision of the Commissioner. Tr. 6-9. Greene then filed his
complaint initiating this appeal. Document #2.
After consideration of the record as a whole, the Court finds that the decision of the
Commissioner is supported by substantial evidence.
Greene was 44 years old at the time of the hearing. Tr. 34. He went to the twelfth grade in
regular classes and obtained his General Equivalency Diploma. Tr. 35, 193. He has past relevant
work as a construction worker, yard worker, warehouse worker and forklift operator. Tr. 36, 41,
191.
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The ALJ considered Greene’s impairments by way of the required five-step sequential
evaluation process. The first step is to determine whether the claimant is involved in substantial
gainful activity. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(i), 416.920(a)(4)(i) (2010). If the claimant is engaged
in substantial gainful activity, benefits are denied, regardless of the claimant’s medical condition, age,
education or work experience. Id. § 404.1520(b), 416.920(b). Step 2 is to determine whether the
claimant has an impairment or combination of impairments that is “severe” and meets the duration
requirement. Id. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). If not, benefits are denied. Id. A “severe”
impairment significantly limits a claimant’s ability to perform basic work activities.

Id.

§§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). Step 3 is to determine whether the severe impairment meets or equals
a listed impairment. Id. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iii), 416.920(a)(4)(iii). If so, and the duration requirement
is met, benefits are awarded. Id. If the claimant does not meet or equal a Listing, then a residual
functional capacity assessment is made. Id. §§ 404.1520(a)(4), 416.920(a)(4). This residual
functional capacity assessment is used at Steps 4 and 5. Id. Step 4 is to determine whether the
claimant has sufficient residual functional capacity to perform past relevant work.

Id.

§§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iv), 416.920(a)(4)(iv). If so, benefits are denied. Id. Step 5 is to determine
whether the claimant is able to make an adjustment to other work, given claimant’s age, education
and work experience. Id. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v), 416.920(a)(4)(v). If so, benefits are denied; if not,
benefits are awarded. Id.
The ALJ found Greene had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since his alleged onset
date.2 Tr. 19. He found that Greene had “severe” impairments, knee problems and obesity. Id. He
2

The ALJ noted that Greene had received unemployment benefits in 2008 and had earned
$6,707 in 2009. Tr. 19. He treated the latter as an unsuccessful work attempt. Id. Greene testified
that he was working at the time of the hearing; his attorney asked that the case be considered for a
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found that Greene did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or equaled a
Listing. Tr. 22. He judged that Greene’s allegations regarding his limitations were not totally
credible. Tr. 25. The ALJ found that Greene retained the residual functional capacity for less than
a full range of light work. Tr. 22, 26. He determined Greene was unable to perform any of his past
relevant work. Tr. 26. Based on the testimony of a vocational expert witness in response to a
hypothetical question, the ALJ found that there were a significant number of jobs in the economy
which Greene could perform, notwithstanding his limitations, for example, production worker,
assembler and inspector. Tr. 26-27. Thus, the ALJ concluded that Greene was not disabled. Tr. 27.
Greene argues that the ALJ erred at Step 2 of the sequential evaluation process when he did
not find his sleep apnea to be a “severe” impairment. Plaintiff’s brief at 10-12. Greene places undue
emphasis on the distinction between impairments that are “severe” and those that are not. Once a
claimant gets past the Step 2 threshold of having a “severe” impairment, the ALJ considers all
impairments, including those that are less than “severe,” in determining the claimant’s residual
functional capacity. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1545(e); 416.945(e) (2010); Social Security Ruling 96-8p,
at 5. The ALJ cited and utilized the correct standard for determining Greene’s residual functional
capacity. Tr. 18-19.
Next, Greene argues the ALJ’s residual functional capacity finding is not supported by
substantial evidence. Plaintiff’s brief at 12-13. He bases this argument on the ALJ’s failure to contact
a treating physician again for an opinion of Greene’s function-by-function limitations. Plaintiff’s brief
at 12-14. It is doubtful that the doctor in question, Imran Waheed, M.D., qualifies as a treating
physician. It appears that he saw Greene on only two or three occasions, first in a treating

closed period of disability. Tr. 35.
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relationship at Jefferson Regional Medical Center and later as a consultative examiner. Tr. 245-49,
285-89. See Randolph v. Barnhart, 386 F.3d 835, 840 (8th Cir. 2004) (doctor had only met with
patient on three occasions when she filled out checklist). “Generally, the longer a treating source has
treated you and the more times you have been seen by a treating source, the more weight we will give
to the source's medical opinion.” 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1527(d)(2)(i), 416.927(d)(2)(i) (2010). Dr.
Waheed performed a general physical examination in February 2009. Tr. 285-89. The examination
revealed no muscle weakness, no atrophy and no sensory abnormalities. Tr. 288. He noted only
severe pain in both knees, but no other functional restrictions. Tr. 289.
The ALJ is permitted to issue a decision without obtaining additional evidence as long as the
record is sufficient to make an informed decision. See e.g., Haley v. Massanari, 258 F.3d 742, 749
(8th Cir. 2001); Anderson v. Shalala, 51 F.3d 777, 779 (8th Cir. 1995). Greene bears the burden of
showing both a failure to develop the record and unfairness or prejudice resulting from that failure.
Haley, 258 F.3d at 750; Shannon v. Chater, 54 F.3d 484, 488 (8th Cir. 1995); Onstad v. Shalala,
999 F.2d 1232, 1234 (8th Cir. 1993). In this case, the record was sufficient and Greene did not meet
his burden of showing otherwise.
Next, Greene challenges the ALJ’s credibility determination. Plaintiff’s brief at 15-19. The
ALJ considered Greene’s subjective complaints in light of Polaski v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 1320 (8th Cir.
1984).3 Tr. 22-23. There is little objective support in the record for Greene’s claim of disability. No
evaluations showed medical conditions that were disabling. Furthermore, inconsistencies between
the medical evidence and Greene’s subjective complaints gave reason to discount those complaints.
3

The ALJ also cited Social Security Ruling 96-7p and 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529 and 416.929.
Tr. 22. That Ruling tracks Polaski and 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c)(3) and 416.929(c)(3) and
elaborates on them.
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Casey v. Astrue, 503 F.3d 687, 695 (8th Cir. 2007); Richmond v. Shalala, 23 F.3d 1441, 1443 (8th
Cir. 1994).
Given the inconsistencies in Greene’s statements, the lack of medical evidence in support of
Greene’s allegations, the lack of medications taken, the lack of more treatment, Greene’s daily
activities, his poor work record, his functional capabilities and the lack of restriction placed on Greene
by his physicians, the ALJ could rightly discount Greene’s subjective complaints. See, e.g., McCoy
v. Astrue, 648 F.3d 605, 614 (8th Cir. 2011) (ALJ may discount subjective complaints if there are
inconsistencies in the record as a whole); Halverson v. Astrue, 600 F.3d 922, 932 (8th Cir. 2010)
(same); Guilliams v. Barnhart, 393 F.3d 798, 801 (8th Cir. 2005) (same); Dunahoo v. Apfel, 241
F.3d 1033, 1038 (8th Cir. 2001) (ALJ may discount complaints inconsistent with the evidence as a
whole); Dodson v. Chater, 101 F.3d 533, 534 (8th Cir. 1996) (after full consideration of all evidence
relating to subjective complaints, ALJ may discount complaints if there are inconsistencies in evidence
as a whole). The ALJ’s credibility analysis was proper. He followed the law and regulations, made
express credibility findings and gave valid reasons for discrediting Greene’s subjective complaints.
See e.g., Finch v. Astrue, 547 F.3d 933, 935-36 (8th Cir. 2008); Shelton v. Chater, 87 F.3d 992, 995
(8th Cir. 1996); Reynolds, 82 F.3d at 258. His explicit credibility findings are entitled to deference
as long as they are supported by good reasons and substantial evidence. Schultz v. Astrue, 479 F.3d
979, 983 (8th Cir. 2007); Gregg v. Barnhart, 354 F.3d 710, 714 (8th Cir. 2003).
Finally, Greene argues the Step 5 decision was undermined by the ALJ’s findings regarding
Greene’s residual functional capacity and credibility. Those issues have already been discussed and
merit no further attention.

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It is not the task of this Court to review the evidence and make an independent decision.
Neither is it to reverse the decision of the ALJ because there is evidence in the record which
contradicts his findings. The test is whether there is substantial evidence on the record as a whole
which supports the decision of the ALJ. Van Vickle v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 825, 828 (8th Cir. 2008);
Pratt v. Sullivan, 956 F.2d 830, 833 (8th Cir. 1992).
The Court has reviewed the entire record, including the briefs, the ALJ’s decision, the
transcript of the hearing and the medical and other evidence. There is ample evidence on the record
as a whole that “a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support [the] conclusion” of the ALJ
in this case. Richardson, 402 U.S. at 401; see also Reutter ex rel. Reutter v. Barnhart, 372 F.3d 946,
950 (8th Cir. 2004). The Commissioner’s decision is not based on legal error.
CONCLUSION
The final determination of the Commissioner is affirmed. Robert Eugene Greene’s complaint
is dismissed with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 21st day of February, 2014.

_________________________________
J. LEON HOLMES
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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